SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Playing their sixth game in 11 days, the Wittenberg Tigers found themselves overmatched against 12th-ranked Ohio Northern in a 5-0 non-conference defeat.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 3-2-1 on the season, while Ohio Northern, which settled for a 1-1 tie with Wittenberg a year ago, improved to 5-1.

The game went Ohio Northern's way from the start as the Polar Bears found the back of the net in just the fifth minute. By halftime, the score was 2-0, and in the second half ONU pulled away as all five Wittenberg shots missed the target. At the other end, the Polar Bears tallied three goals in a span of four minutes to break the game wide open.

Eight different Tiger players took a shot, with five of them directed on goal. All five opportunities were easily handled by ONU goalkeeper Mac Church. For Wittenberg, sophomore Jeff Mengerink (Delaware, Ohio/Hayes) made three saves before giving way to freshman David Barth (Findlay, Ohio/Cypress Ranch (Texas)), who made two saves while keeping a clean sheet over the final 30:22.

Wittenberg returns to action at Bluffton at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15.